Lea Michele Asks Bloomberg to Save Horses

Written by PETA | October 25, 2011

UPDATE: When Lea Michele found out about the death of yet another horse used for carriage rides in New York City, she immediately sent a letterto Mayor Michael Bloomberg asking him to support the bill that would replace the cruel carriages with eco-friendly retro cars and allow the remaining horses to go to sanctuaries.

The following was originally posted on October 24, 2011:

Yet another horse used to pull carriages in New York City has dropped dead in the street, adding one more body to a count that continues to grow. Glee‘s Lea Michele recently hosted a PETA video detailing the miserable lives of these horses, who are forced to haul heavy loads in all weather extremes in one of the busiest cities in the world.

[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkJPetfniTc]

Wherever you live, if you see a horse (or any animal) in distress, contact local humane authorities immediately. If you live in New York and see a horse in trouble, contact the ASPCA at 212-876-7700, extension 4450, and PETA at [email protected] right away.

Never take a horse-drawn carriage ride, and please let New York officials know that you support Intro. Bill 86, which would replace horse-drawn carriages with eco-friendly classic cars.

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Mayor Bloomberg, you are such a warrior for the downtrodden in America that it`s time to incorporate you efforts on animals in your great city. As horse drawn carriages are a sign of the city`s past, the elimination of them from the landscape is a sign of the new times: animal respect and protection. Please discontinue them and make a national announcement that your doing so in keeping with the animal respect that is sweep the nation, your city and the world.

I would also like to add, if I may, that here in Greece, on the beatiful island of Spetes (and also Corfu) we have traditional hoersedrawn carriages both as an attraction and as the local taxi. (The island is very small and cars are not alowed). But the owners, although considered harsh and inconciderate people are not the least such. And althouhg there is no law for the protection of the welfare of these horses, they donot work more than five hours within the 3 hot summer months carrying tourists and their luggage to and from hotels, restaurants,nightclubs. They rest in considerably clean of adequate size hay strewn stables, while other horses take their place. A carriage man has 3 to 5 horses. In winter months they help cultivate some land (not much, neither the land nor the work, just enough for keeping fit) for some of their own food. Not an easy ideal life but humanely decent. Besides we all more or less work or even struggle for a decent living.

It’s unforgivably cruel to treat this noble highly intelligent animal like this. Horses have always been to the man’s side aiding in wverywhich way throuhg hundreds of centuries.A great deal of our progress in civilization and technological progress is owed to horses. But Man is known to be the most ungrateful creature on Earth. And the way these unfortunate horses of N.Y.C. are treated proves this once more. If the city cannot provide for the wellbeing and proper care ot these working horses, which not only offer actual work but also addorn the city, and if the city cannot have and enforce laws to protect these horses, then the least that can be done is let them be in a sanctuary for what is left of their miserable lives that Man made them live.

It never amazes me how humans can destroy and abuse animals.These horses are not even rewarded for their hard day work. Humans can destroy more than animals will. Stop the Carriage rides, where are the laws in New York to protect these horses.

Sitting inside an AC room at work still makes us so much stressed out by end of the day! We just cant dare to even imagine what’s the amount of stress and pain these animals would be undergoing b/w the huge traffics and burning sun with the loads they carry.. and no peaceful sleep with proper accommodations. We need to voice out the injustice happening to such innocent lives.

Please do not continue this outdated, cruel and barbaric practise of horse drawn carriages in New York. I am an Australian and our friends are heading to New York soon. I shall certainly be showing them what goes on and asking them not to patronise this business. When will people wake up and understand that animals are not here for humans to abuse and use. Thank you. Kathrine & Keith Walsh

I am appalled by the apparent indifference to these wonderful animals who are give their ALL. PLEASE, TAKE PITY ON THESE CREATURES. I support the move to have carriage horses on NY streets replaced with eco-friendly cars. The tourists won’t even notice the difference once it becomes a law. It’s an antiquated custom that needs to stop immediately. I am 70 years old and can remember when horses pulled heavy wagons loaded w/fruit, vegetables, meat, ice and even rags around our streets. THAT WAS IN THE 1940’S. Let it go. This is an “old” and “quaint” custom that needs to stop NOW.

I didn’t know they were kept in buildings in town, this is ridiculous, the stairs etc.. NO. NO. NO. thy cannot rest properly. This is simply animal abuse. The service provided should at least be rewarded with the proper care and housing they so deserve. These animals are exhausted! They are too overworked and poorly cared for. FREE THEM. STOP ABUSING HORSES

I live in Australia and as carriage rides are not something done in Australia (to the best of my knowledge) I haven’t ever given a second thought about these rides. It truly is disgusting what these poor horses go through – animals shouldn’t have to do anything they don’t want to do unless they volunteer for it by showing some enthusiasm. Humans at least get paid in one way or another to do things they may not like doing but these poor horses don’t even get a decent place to live. I truly hope this horrible practice stops

We had the same problem in Knasas City Missouri a few years ago but after many talks with the mayor and many talks with the horses owners a settlement was agreed upon. The horses cannot be worked every day, eash horse has at least two days off and can only be worked 2 hours without a 30 minute to an hour break. they can’t be as close as the were to the cars mufflers and have been given a different route. Vet must be on sight whenever the horses are working. There are some other conditions too. Things can be agreed upon if you work at it. It won’t happen overnight but it will happen. Good Luck!

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Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights? Read more.